Elevator



m e e h S .W M e h S 2 N 0 S R fi T T A P H W (No Model.)

ELEVATOR.

Patented May 2, 1882.

N. PETERS. Plmtn-Llthagnp (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. H. PATTERSON.

ELEVATOR.

UNITED STATES PATENT Y OFFICE.

,WILLIAM H. PATTERSON, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

ELEVATG R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,182, dated May 2,1882.

Application tiled August 15, 1883. (No model.)

I 0 all whom it may concern:

Beitknown that I, WILLIAM H. PATTERSON, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Baltimore city, in the State of Maryland, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Elevators; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

I provide a vertically-sliding gate or guard operated directly by themovement of the elevator-platform, whereby to insure the closing of theapproach to the hatchway in the absence of the elevator therefrom. Iprovide improved means for closing the safetygate by the raising orlowering of the elevator, whereby the gate is opened and held open whenthe elevator is in receiving position and closed when the elevator isnot in such posi- This automatic oper-- tion in the hatchway. ation ofthe sliding gate is important in avoiding the necessity for personalattention or the possibility of neglect to close it, and because theclosing of the gate is thereby rendered certain at the time required.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents thefloor-entrance to the hatchway of an elevator and the appliances belowthe floor for operating the gate or guard, which is shown as closed;Fig. 2, a vertical section of the same, showing the elevator in positionwithin the hatch way and the gate open; Fig. 3, a similar section,showing the elevator below the hatchway and the gate closed; Fig. 4, asimilar section, showing the elevator above the hatch way and the gateclosed; Fig. 5, the platform-racks, and Fig. 6 a detail view of the rackand toothed wheel engaged.

1n the drawings, a represents the floors of the building; and b, thehatchways, in which the elevator is adapted to operate in the usualmanner. The platform 0 of the elevator moves in the usualguide-structure, and may be of the ordinary construction. A gate orguard, d, is fitted to slide vertically between the grooved supports orposts 6 e, placed at the hatchway'entrance of each floor.

The gate may be made of wire, a light wooden frame or a bar being onlyintended as a guard against accidents from an exposed'hatchway. It ishung by cords ff, passing over pulleys g g in the grooved posts, andwhich cords,passing down through the floor and throughdirectionapertures, which may be provided with friction-pulleys, ifdesired, are connected with winding and unwinding drums h h, fixed upona. shaft, 11, fitted in hangers jj, below the floor, so that the turningof the drums h it winds the cords and raises the gate when the platformis in proper position or flush with the hatchway, and unwinding allowsthe gate to drop or-elose by its gravity when the platform leaves thehatchway exposed by its moving upward or downward. The means foreffecting this Iwill now describe.

The shaft of the winding and unwinding pulleys is arranged parallel withthe gate, and carries two toothed wheels, k, and two ratchetwheels, 1 I,the former being fitted to turn loosely and the latter fixed upon saidshaft and provided with pawls m, pivoted to the toothed wheels and heldengaged with the ratchet-wheels by springs, so as to form a clutch,whereby the toothed wheels are looked upon the shaft, so that each turnswith it in one direction, but free of the shaft when the latter turns inthe opposite direction. These wheels must therefore be placed side byside, and I prefer also to arrange them by the side of thewinding-pulleys, as shown. Vertical racks n n are secured to the sameedge of the platform at or near the opposite corners, one extendingabove and the other below said platform and in position to engage withthe toothed wheels as the platform passes through the hatchway. Each ofthese racks engages with and operates one of the toothed wheels,windingshaft, and pulleys, and thus opens'the gate as the elevatorapproaches the hatchway, and keeps the gate open as long as the elevatorremains in a receiving position within the hatchway. The movement of theelevator from its position in the hatch way releases the rack from thetoothed wheel, causing the gate to drop or close by its weight, theother rack and toothed wheel offering no resistance to this closing ofthe gate, from the fact, as before stated, that the toothed wheels workloosely on the shaft in opposite directions. It willbe understoodthatoneof these racks operates to open the gate in the upward movementof the elevator and the other in the downward movement of the elevator,and that the closing of the gate takes place at the moment the actingrack is released. The nonactin g rack, though engaged at the same timewith its toothed wheel, does not prevent this release by reason of saidtoothed wheel slipping on its shaft, and the gate having sufficientweightto turn back the winding-wheels to unwind the cords.

The extent of the opening of the gate is regulated by the length of therack and the relative diameters of the toothed wheels andwinding-pulleys. The form of the teeth shown is such as to give flatacting faces only on one side and a beveled non-acting face.

In an elevator passingthrough several stories the hatchway on each flooris provided with the sliding gate and the winding device heneath thefloor, so that the elevator-platform racks willengagc with suchwindingdevices I in passing from one story to another, leaving the gates of allthe hatchways closed except the one at which the elevator is being used.

I have shownand described a single vertical sliding gate; but it isobvious that the other side ofthe elevator may be provided with a gateoperated in the same manner and at the same time.

I claim 1. The combination, with an elevator-platform provided withvertical racks and a vertically-sliding hatchway gate or guard carriedby winding-cords, ofa winding and releasing device arranged below thehatchway and operated by the elevator-racks, whereby to wind the cordsin opening the gate, and to release the winding device to allow the gateto automatically close, substantially as described, for the purposespecified.

2. The elevator-racks carried by and projecting vertically above andbelow the elevatorplatform, in combination with toothed wheels adaptedto engage with said racks, winding and unwinding drums, and a clutchdevice for each toothed wheel, and a vertically-sliding gate for thehatchway, connected by winding and unwinding cords, substantially asdescribed, for the purpose specified.

3. In an elevator the combination of a sliding guard-gate, anelevator-platform, and the vertical racks thereof, with winding meansfor raising and lowering said gate, the said winding means consisting ofa toothed wheel and clutch on the winding shaft, as set forth.

In testimony whereofI have aflixed my signa turein the presence of twowitnesses.

\VILLIAM H. PATTERSON.

Witnesses O. H. SLICER, Jos'HUA M. M YERS.

